The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-09-16

very good plan of confederation, but could
not get it considered. In 1865 nine colonies
were represented in conference at New
York Finally, on the 9th of September, TIA.
the.frst Continental congress met at Phila-
delphia, and thereafter the tendency toward
union was irresistible till the declaration Of
independence, July 4, 1776
1t is not easy to define the powers of the
Continental congress, they were SO augmented
by necessity and SO supplemented by the
colonial legislatures and local committees of
safety, which exercised almost despotic
powers. The movement for better organ
lied government was already in progress
Tom Paine issued his brilliant pamphlet in
favor of national government, and Alex
ander Hamilton warmly seconded Paine's
argument in many letters and addresses.
Paine was revolutionist, Hamilton an or
ganizer; Washington followed as the mod
orator. He first ventured to use the word
"empire," meaning, as subsequent letters
show, ali empire of republics" After tax
ing command of the army he often urged the
members to consider "that power and weight
which ought of right to belong only to the
whole" Four years he continued to urge a
stronger central power, and in March, 1919,
wrote to George Mason, of Virginia: II
lament the fatal policy of the states employing
their abest men at home. How useless to put
in fine order the smallest parts of clock unless
the great spring which is to set the whole in
motion is well attended to. Let this voice
call forth you, Jefferson and others to save
their country" Yet it took the congress two
years to complete the articles of confedera-
ton and nearly two more to get them sane
toned by all the states, only to find them in
efficient within six months after their
adoption.
On the LIST of March, 1881, the delegates
from Maryland subscribed the articles; on the
second it was taken for granted that the new
government was in force, and within the
month several members complained of the
want of sufficient powers. On the 10th,
James Madison introduced a new clause, that
the states should give congress the power to
compel recalcitrant state to perform its
obligations. On the I'd of May it was re-
ferred to committee of one from each state;
on the Goth of July they reported a substi-
tute, that congress might in time of war lay
an embargo for sixty days and name receivers
of public money, after it had been collected
by state officers. On the same day Edmund
Randolph presented the resolutions of the
Virginia legislature, that congress fought
to have more power" In July and August |
Hamilton issued series of papers called "The
Continentalist," in which he vigorously urged
a more complete union, central executive
and national revenue. But all in vain.
Soon after CORVALLIS surrendered, the |
British hastily concentrated in two or three |
ports, ready for embarking; every one went |
wild in expectation of an immediate close of
the war. and the ''more perfect union" was |
ignored. Philip Schuyler, Alexander Hamil- |
ton and others had just before this persuaded
the great state of New York to agree that |
duties should "be collected in such manner |
and by such officers as congress should di-
rect" and Virginia had consented to a similar
but the other states were SO
slow that the opposition had time to
-ally, and both concessions were re-
voked or ignored. New York, however,
'or the first, proposed a convention to form
/ new constitution. Hamilton drafted the
resolutions, his father-in-law, Schuyler, urged
hem vigorously, and they passed both houses
If the legislature by unanimous vote. There
lfter they were the platform, the store house
If texts and arguments for the "Strong Gov
eminent Wings" Finally all the states but
Rhode Island consented to national revenue
rom customs duties; the negative of the one
tate ruined the scheme and thus the weary
eesaw went on four years longer, till the con-
was without cash at home or credit
lbroad, and was fast sinking into contempt.
n Virginia the issue was debated almost in
for six years, Washington and
Madison leading the nationalist, Richard
Henry Lee contending for separation and
tate sovereignty, Patrick Henry advocating
My strengthening of the existing confed-
ration.
Pressure from without had kept Americans
nited during the war; renewal of that